Mavis Staples

Music fans have always traveled to catch a glimpse of one of their favorite acts, whether they're "Deadheads" crossing land and sea to see The Grateful Dead or international millennials camping out in the California desert for Coachella.

With new festivals popping up at a fast tempo, there's more reason than ever to hit the road for the sake of some live music. Here are five of the fall's best.

Made in America, Sept. 2-3: Since its inception in 2012, this fest has boasted astounding lineups exclusively curated by its founder, rapper Jay Z. With Jay's connections, it's no wonder that "surprise" performances from Beyonce, Rihanna and Kanye...

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Music fans have always traveled to catch a glimpse of one of their favorite acts, whether they're "Deadheads" crossing land and sea to see The Grateful Dead or international millennials camping out in the California desert for Coachella.
With new...

In the noisy jungle of pop music, many artists speak their truth by pretending to be somebody else. Singing from the perspective of an alter ego has become standard practice for the likes of Lana Del Rey, the Weeknd, Lady Gaga and every rapper whose stage...

Shemekia Copeland steps to the lip of the stage and lets forth a cry that could carry for miles.
As she snarls and hisses the lyrics to "Ghetto Child," the audience — numbering in the thousands at the Blues on the Fox festival in Aurora — roars its...

The 21st annual Blues on the Fox returns to Aurora with two nights of blistering rock and blues June 16 and 17.Gates at RiverEdge Park will open at 6 p.m. Friday to an all-girls lineup featuring three-time Grammy nominee Shemekia Copeland at 7 p.m.,...

When the going gets topical, Mavis Staples seems to be the go-to singer for artists looking for a little historical veracity. Such is the case with the title track from Benjamin Booker's second album, "Witness" (ATO). Staples helps turn a suggestion of...

Pop music
Greg Kot
The summer is loaded with big concerts in the pop world. Here are a few of the more notable ones:
U2: In which the Irish quartet joins the parade of major artists celebrating past triumphs by playing its 1987 album "The Joshua...

Quick! Think of something interesting to say at dinner Friday night. If nothing’s coming to you, here are your conversation starters for the weekend.
A Ledger’s tale
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In the popular song "Hotel California," the Eagles' Don Henley sang, "You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
That isn't the case at Hotel California Todos Santos, an actual 11-room hotel in Todos Santos, Mexico, from which...

The first Gorillaz album in six years, "Humanz" (Warner), ends with a tongue-in-cheek musical detente between two former Britpop rivals — Blur's Damon Albarn and Oasis' Noel Gallagher. "We got the power to be loving each other," they sing, a notion that...

Blues on the Fox Festival
RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora
Hours: 6 p.m. June 16 and 2 p.m. June 17
Cost: $10 in advance through May 31, $20 starting June 1. Under 12 free, but must be accompanied by an adult.
Information: 630-896-6666 or...

Wilco's Jeff Tweedy is entering songbook album-land.
No he's not going the full-Dylan and re-recording selections from the American songbook, but is redoing his own. Tweedy's new solo album, "Together at Last," out June 23, features stripped down...

The Chicago Blackhawks lace up their skates this week for a ninth-straight season of playoff hockey, and things are awfully good on West Madison Street.
At least four future Hall of Famers will again be on the ice for this year's Stanley Cup run,...

Published in Chicago Tribune on April 13, 2017 — Print headline: "Blackhawks, here's one more goal: Play better music"

The initial lineup for this summer for RiverEdge Park in Aurora includes performances by Mavis Staples, Peter Frampton, Kesha and the Creepies and more.
The outdoor summer concert and event initial lineup at downtown Aurora's RiverEdge Park was...

Chance the Rapper, Arcade Fire and Lorde are among the headliners announced Wednesday for Lollapalooza this summer in Chicago.
Muse, the XX, Blink-182, DJ Snake and Justice also are stacked at the top of the festival, which returns to Grant Park on...

2016 Kennedy Center honoree and soul legend Mavis Staples is featured on Arcade Fire's new single "I Give You Power," the band's first new recording since 2013's "Reflektor."
The synth-laced track pits Staples' husky power vocal against Arcade Fire...

United by a commitment to traditionalism, Mary J. Blige and Maxwell delivered sets distinguished by differences in style and intent Wednesday at a packed United Center. Playing the last concert of a world tour, the co-headlining soul contemporaries also...

The destination bar off the beaten path has 20-year roots in Chicago's music scene but a century-long legacy as a watering hole for blue collar folk.
The Essentials: The Hideout1354 W. Wabansia Ave. 773-227-4433
Looks like: A Girl Scout camp rec hall...

Nathaniel Rateliff channeled one Chicago music legend and invited another onstage at a retro-themed show Wednesday at a packed Chicago Theatre. Shortly into his set, the vocalist acknowledged the importance of opener Mavis Staples before bringing the...